Ozone :: Ozone Layer Oxygen Environmental Essays

OzoneOzone (O3) is a mote consisting of three type O atoms, similar to the oxygenwe breathe (O2), however oxygen consists of alone cardinal oxygen atoms. In thestratosphere, a region high up in the upper atmosphere, elation rays areresponsible for the breaking down of oxygen (O2), breathable oxygen into its twoseparate oxygen atoms. Lone oxygen atoms are markedly reactive. When a loneoxygen atom comes into contact with a breathable oxygen molecule (O2) itcombines to form ozone (O3). The ozone point is a small residual amount ofozone tough in a band in the upper atmosphere. This band of strongozone resides approximately between twenty and forty kilometers high in thestratosphere. The ozone socio-economic class reactions that both create and destroy ozone hascome into a high-voltage equilibrium. This dynamic equilibrium is very delicate andresulted during atmospheric formation (Environment Canada, 1996). Ozone, however,is very high-flown even in the ozone layer. Oxygen makes up approximately twenty portion of air and ozone makes up only 3 x 10-5 percent of air. Further more than,this trivial amount of ozone is enough to protect the background from closelyultraviolet light. Ozone prevents most UV-B radiation from reaching the surfaceof the earth (Environment Canada, 1996). Ozone is very important to look onearth because the harmfulness of high- zippo UV-B radiation stems from the highenergy of these light rays, enabling them to penetrate deeply into water, planttissue and epidermal tissue of animals. Increased UV-B radiation results inharming the metabolic system of cells and in the long run damage to genetic materialpresent in effected cells. supporting organisms on the surface of the earth havealways been exposed to some, and only slightly differing levels of UV-Bradiation depending of geographic location and season. Through evolution,cellular have-to doe with mechanisms have evolved to safeguard cells against damage doneby UV-B radiation. Wit h the increase in the UV-B radiation, more damage is doneto cellular functions then the natural safeguard system can deal with(Environment Canada, 1996). Life on earth would more or less be void if not forthe formation of the ozone layer during atmospheric formation (Porter, 1996).With out the ozone layer the harmful UV-B radiation would not allow the growthof autotrophic plants, resulting in reduction in oxygen production ultimatelythe destruction of most living organisms on the earth surface would result.Increased UV-B radiation has been linked to many incidence of change magnitude healthproblems among humans. UV-B radiation leads to increase skin cancer, eye damage,and possible stifling of the immune system (Health Canada). These incidencehave been noticed in humans, and it is presumed that these problems pass on occur